Victims Stories • Carol Levin
“I hold Todd in my heart, and it is my honor to share him with MADD and others.”
My grieving and healing journey has not been a direct line; it has been twists, turns, ebbs, and waves. Over the years, I have been able to move from grieving to healing with the help of others by sharing my story with others who have experienced a similar loss to impaired driving – it helped to know that I was not alone. I have participated in Support Groups locally in Houston and made personal connections and friendships. In 2020, because of COVID, I embarked on sharing my story statewide in Texas with others virtually, in Texas-led curriculum-based support group. We met each week for a few sessions, and I was able to help other survivors by sharing my healing journey. My connections and friendships now span over the state of Texas. Now, Todd’s story has led me to continue to fight for justice for him, Raylynn, and others. I am the Southeast Texas – Houston Office Governor Affairs Chair. We are creating an army of passionate volunteers and our role is to help pass life-saving legislation for Texas
with the goal of passing the Abass Bill and Ride Act Bill. These laws will be lifesaving. As we build our committee, I am using my previous experience and efforts in making changes in legislation. In 2015, I worked with MADD volunteers and employees to pass the Interlock Ignition bill during that legislative session. This was an eight-year feat, but we did it. Todd was a son. Todd was a brother. Todd was a wonderful human being. Todd was loved by many. Todd was kind. He loved people. He loved sports. He loved music. He was charming. He is missed. A memory that I hold close to my heart is when he was 13 years old, we celebrated his Bar Mitzvah. This is our family and religious tradition, and it was my honor to be his Bar Mitzvah teacher. I stood beside Todd as his teacher, but also as a proud Mother. When Todd read from the Torah my heart beamed and continues to beam as I remember that special day. I hold Todd in my heart, and it is my honor to share him with MADD and others.
As Todd’s mother, it was important for me to grieve, help others, and honor both Todd and Raylynn’s memory. To help me in my personal healing, my goal was to focus my pain into purpose. After Todd’s death, I became involved with the organization, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), a local advocate in Houston, provided my family and I with support in the criminal justice process. MADD was instrumental in ensuring that my family and I had a voice. We became Todd’s voice in the court process and provided our Victim Impact Statement. After the case was closed and the offender was sentenced, I started volunteering with MADD Southwest Texas office in Houston. I started sharing Todd, Raylynn, and my story with others from schools, colleges, organizations, also during MADD’s court-ordered Victim Impact Panels.
It was helpful in my personal journey to share Todd’s memory and legacy, while educating youth of all ages on the dangers and consequences of substance impaired driving. I continue to share our story with others locally, statewide, and in the media. My voice is Todd’s voice, and I will not be silenced. My voice is a call to action: I also share my voice to help MADD and the community of Houston. For the past 14 years, I have proudly participated in each Houston Walk Like MADD event in honor of Todd with our team, Todd’s Troopers. Over the years, as a team we have raised over $100,000 towards MADD’s goal of No More Victims®. My personal tagline is Save a Life, one day, one presentation, one dollar at a time. I am saving a life in honor of Todd and Raylynn.
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Annual Report • 2021
Mothers Against Drunk Driving ®
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